United States Bicycle Route System

Like United States Numbered Highways and many national routing systems, the U.S. Bicycle Route system is designed to roughly follow a grid. Mainline routes are the major cross-country routes and are represented with one- or two-digit numbers. Even-numbered routes are planned to primarily run east–west, with low-numbered routes in the north and high-numbered routes in the south. Odd-numbered routes will primarily run north–south, with low-numbered routes starting in the east and ascending in number toward the west. Three-digit numbers are assigned to auxiliary routes, with the last two digits denoting the parent that the auxiliary connects to. Much like other routing systems, the grid is sometimes violated; for example, U.S. Bicycle Route 76 (USBR 76) is projected to turn to the north in Colorado and end in Oregon as opposed to California, south of (and temporarily concurrent with) USBR 20 but far north of USBR 50.

The existing USBR 1 will be the easternmost route, though USBR 5 will run farther east of it in Virginia and the Carolinas. The westernmost and northernmost routes are USBR 97 and USBR 8, respectively, both of which are in the state of Alaska, but USBR 97 also enters Washington. Outside of Alaska, the westernmost route is expected to be USBR 97 and the northernmost USBR 8. USBR 90 is expected to be the southernmost route.[6] Despite the analogy the system has to the U.S. Highway system, the USBRS's route numbers do not necessarily trace the same route as the corresponding U.S. Highway number; for example, while USBR 1 will run close to the East Coast and thus parallel U.S. Route 1 (US 1), the projected route of USBR 10 generally follows US 2.

In order for a route to qualify as a U.S. Bike Route, it needs to connect two or more states, connect multiple U.S. Bike Routes, or connect a U.S. Bike Route with a national border.

The USBRS was established in 1978 by AASHTO for the purpose of "facilitat[ing] travel between the states over routes which have been identified as being more suitable than others for cycling."[7]

The first routes were defined in 1982: U.S. Bicycle Route 1 (USBR 1) from North Carolina to Virginia, and the stretch of USBR 76 from Illinois through Kentucky to Virginia. These two routes remained the only routes in the system until 2011. In the interim, only minor routing changes had been made in Virginia.

AASHTO established a new task force in 2003 to study expansion of the system.[2][8][9] The task force included state and federal highway officials and representatives from bicycling organizations. In October 2008, AASHTO approved a national-level corridor and route designation plan.[10] Other organizations involved in the effort include state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Adventure Cycling Association.

In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives proposed moving the U.S. Bicycle Route System under the authority of the FHWA as part of a new Office of Livability.[11] In 2009, the FHWA published a new edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices that introduces a revised U.S. Bicycle Route shield. Compared to the 2003 edition, the new design swaps the bicycle symbol and route number.[8]

In early May 2011, the first major expansion of the system was made. Five new parent routes, two child routes, and one alternate route were created, along with modifications to the existing routes in Virginia and the establishment of USBR 1 in New England.[3][4]

• U.S. Bicycle Route 1 now has an additional run from the state of Maine to New Hampshire.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 1A is a sea-side alternate route for USBR 1 in Maine.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 8 runs from Fairbanks, Alaska, along the Alaska Highway, to the Canadian border.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 108 runs from its parent route in Tok, Alaska, to Anchorage.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 208 follows the Haines Highway from the Alaska Marine Highway terminal in Haines to the Canadian border.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 20 runs from the St. Clair River through the state of Michigan to Lake Michigan.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 87 follows the Klondike Highway from the Alaska Marine Highway terminal in Skagway to the Canadian border.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 95 follows the Richardson Highway from Delta Junction, Alaska to the Alaska Marine Highway terminal in Valdez.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 97 is entirely within Alaska, and it runs from Fairbanks, through Anchorage, to Seward.

In 2012, the FHWA approved the use of an alternative U.S. Bicycle Route marker design on an interim basis. The alternative design departs from the longstanding "acorn" shape in favor of a Reuleaux triangle placed over a green background.[12] As of 2021, the FHWA has given 13 states interim approval to use the alternative design.[13]

Across 2013, several other additions to the system were made. After approval in 2012, signage for USBR 45 in Minnesota was completed in the summer. An expansion of USBR 76 into Missouri was signed in October, and both Tennessee and Maryland entered the system on November 5 with USBR 23 and USBR 50, respectively.[5] Florida has also begun planning on four bicycle routes, including its stretch of USBR 1 and USBR 90.[14]

As of May 2020, there are 24 official parent routes in varying stages of completion. In areas where a specific route has not been approved by AASHTO, there is only a prioritized corridor. The 17 existing subsidiary and alternate routes are grouped with their one- or two-digit parents.[1] Approved or signposted routes are located in the District of Columbia and 31 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Alaska has the most of any state, with six active routes total.[15]

Route number	States with approved routes	States within corridor	Official length		Formed	Notes
			(mi)	(km)
USBR 1	Maine,[16] New Hampshire,[17] Massachusetts,[18] District of Columbia,[19] Virginia,[20][18] North Carolina, Georgia,[21] Florida[22]	Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida	1,726.101	2,778	1982	One of the original routes.
USBR 1A	Maine[16]	Maine	135	217	2011	Seaside alternative to USBR 1 in Maine.
USBR 201	Maryland[19]	Maryland	62.4	100	2020
USBR 501	Maine[23]	Maine	327	526	2019
USBR 7	Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut	Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut	380.6	613	2015
USBR 8	Alaska[24]	Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia	290.94	468	2011	The northernmost route in the system, USBR 8 was approved from Fairbanks to the Canadian border, following Alaska Route 2 along the Richardson and Alaska highways.[25][24] A second section will run from USBR 10 in Minnesota to USBR 10 in Michigan.
USBR 108	Alaska[24]	Alaska	302	486	2011	A spur of USBR 8 that follows Alaska Route 1 from Tok to Anchorage, at a junction with USBR 97.[24]
USBR 208	Alaska[24]	Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan	39	63	2011	A spur of Route 8 that follows the Haines Highway.[24]
USBR 10	Washington, Idaho,[26] Michigan[18]	Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington	663.6	1,068	2014	Northernmost planned route in the contiguous United States, roughly following the U.S. Route 2 highway.
USBR 110	Idaho	Idaho	29.8	48	2017
USBR 210	Idaho	Idaho	33.6	54	2017
USBR 310	Washington	Washington	1.2	2	2018
USBR 410	Idaho	Idaho	50	80	2017
USBR 610	Washington	Washington	2.1	3	2018
USBR 11	Maryland,[18] West Virginia, New York[19]	North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York	170.3	274	2014	This route generally parallels U.S. Route 11. The first section was established in Maryland on November 24, 2014.[18]
USBR 15	Georgia, Florida	New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida	106.2	171	2018	First segment from Fitzgerald, Georgia, to Florida state line approved in 2018.[27] The second segment from the Georgia state line to USBR 90 in Madison, Florida was approved in 2018.[28]
USBR 20	Michigan	Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon	310	499	2011	Routing in Michigan has been approved,[25] from the international Bluewater Ferry to Canada in Marine City, Michigan, and is planned to incorporate the Lake Michigan Carferry crossing between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
USBR 21	Kentucky,[21] Georgia	Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia	426.1	686	2015
USBR 221	Georgia	Georgia	12.6	20	2018	Originally established in 2015 as USBR 321; renumbered in 2018.[29]
USBR 421	Georgia	Georgia	38.8	62	2018	Originally established in 2015 as USBR 521; renumbered in 2018.[30]
USBR 621	Georgia	Georgia			2016
USBR 23	Kentucky,[21] Tennessee	Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama	262.5	422	2013	The planned route takes it through northern Alabama. Route in Tennessee was approved in 2013.[5] Kentucky route was approved in 2018.[31]
USBR 30	Pennsylvania, Wisconsin,[32][33] North Dakota[19]	Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana	403	649	2018	First segment established in 2018.[34] Planned to incorporate a ferry crossing on Lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin.
USBR 230	Wisconsin[32][35]	Wisconsin	40.02	64	2020
USBR 35	Michigan, Indiana	Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi	1,233.54	1,985	2012	Planned to run from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to USBR 45 on the Mississippi River in Mississippi or Louisiana. Michigan portion dedicated on May 19, 2012.[36] Indiana portion approved in September 2015.[37] Northbound route through downtown Charlevoix, Michigan, added in 2018.[38]
USBR 35A	Indiana	Indiana	30.4	49	2015
USBR 36	Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania	Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York	73.87	119	2014	Segment from Chicago to the Michigan state line established in 2014.[39][37] Segment through Pennsylvania added in 2018.[40] Planned to stretch from eastern Oregon to New York City.
USBR 37	Illinois	Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois	57.4	92	2014	Currently runs from the Wisconsin–Illinois state line south to Chicago.[39] Planned to begin at USBR 10 near the border with Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Originally planned as part of USBR 66.[41]
USBR 41	Minnesota	Minnesota	315	507	2016	Established in Minnesota in 2016.[42][43] Runs from the Canada–US border in Minnesota south to the Mississippi River and USBR 45.
USBR 45	Minnesota	Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana	726	1,168	2012	Planned to incorporate the Mississippi River Trail[2] and run from northern Minnesota south to New Orleans, Louisiana, it is unclear whether this route will primarily run along either the west bank or east bank of the Mississippi River. Route was approved May 21, 2012.[44][45]
USBR 50	District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Nevada, California[32]	Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California	1,500.65	2,415	2013	Planned to be one of the longest routes, stretching from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware through Washington, D.C. in the east to near San Francisco, California.
USBR 50A	Ohio	Ohio	32.3	52	2015
USBR 66	Kansas,[46] Missouri[47]	Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California	357.704	576	2018	Planned to roughly follow the decommissioned U.S. Route 66 highway from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. Originally planned to continue north to Wisconsin on what is now planned as USBR 37.[41]
USBR 70	Utah[26]	Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California	450	724	2015	Planned to run from USBR 76 in Colorado to USBR 66 in California.
USBR 76	Virginia,[20][18] Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas	Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon	2,358.7	3,796	1982	One of the two original routes, this is planned to be expanded to the longest route, running from the existing eastern terminus near the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia west to the Pacific Ocean west of Eugene, Oregon. The number refers to 1776 and the U.S. bicentennial year 1976 when this was the "Bikecentennial" route. Like USBR 1, unofficial signs exist in places along the route, which is officially only from Virginia to Missouri. Route approved and signed in Missouri in October 2013.[48] The Kansas segment was realigned in 2018, shortening the route by 7 miles (11 km).[49]
USBR 176	Virginia	Virginia			2016
USBR 79	Utah[26]	Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona	332	534	2015	Planned to run from USBR 36 in Idaho to USBR 90 near Phoenix, Arizona.
USBR 87	Alaska,[24] Washington	Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California	14	23	2011	The middle route of three serving the three West Coast states and Alaska. It is planned to use the Alaska Marine Highway to connect USBR 95 north of Los Angeles, California to Skagway, Alaska. Currently, the only approved route follows the Klondike Highway.[24]
USBR 90	Florida,[18] Arizona[50]	Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California	997.04	1,605	2014	The southernmost route, running from near Jacksonville, Florida west to San Diego, California. The first section was established in Florida on November 24, 2014.[18] The section through Arizona was approved on September 24, 2015.[50][37]
USBR 95	Alaska,[24] Washington	Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California	266	428	2011	USBR 95 currently runs from Delta Junction, Alaska to Valdez, via the Richardson Highway.[24] It is planned to follow the Alaska Marine Highway from Valdez to Bellingham, Washington, and then it will go south to San Diego, California. It is expected to incorporate the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route.[2]
USBR 97	Alaska,[24] Washington	Alaska, Washington	566.7	912	2011	The westernmost route in the system, USBR 97 lies in Alaska and Washington. It connects Fairbanks, Anchorage and Seward via the Seward and Parks highways to Discovery Bay, Washington. It is planned to extend south along the US 101 corridor to USBR 95 near the Oregon border.[25][24]

Below is an incomplete list of prioritized corridors, "50-mile-wide areas where a route may be developed":[6]

• TransAmerica Bicycle Trail
• Adventure Cycling Route Network
• EuroVelo

U.S. state bicycle route systems:

• List of BicyclePA bicycle routes
• Delaware Bicycle Route 1
• List of bicycle routes in North Carolina
• List of Georgia State Bicycle Routes
• List of New York State Bicycle Routes

• Media related to United States Bicycle Route System at Wikimedia Commons
• U.S. Bicycle Route System - Adventure Cycling Association
  • The United States Bicycle Route System: Corridor Plan - Adventure Cycling Association